QUICK RESPONSE FUNDS SA AFP, INIHIRIT NI LEGARDA SA 2026 BUDGET
Ni Ernie Reyes
Hiniling ni Senador Loren Legarda sa Senado na maglaan ng kaukulang alokasyon para quick response funds ng Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) na isasama sa taunang panukalang pondo ng ahensiya.
Sa ginanap na deliberasyon ng badyet sa plenaryo nitong Biyernes, sinabi ni Legarda na isa ang AFP na unang tumutugon o first responder sa anumang krisis o kalamaidad pero wala silang pondo sa QRF simula noong 2018.
“QRF is given to agencies so they may use it in times of natural hazards, which turn into disasters, and I recall in the 2018 GAA (General Appropriations Act), I gave the AFP P750 million as QRF. And this fund supported rescue operations, logistics, and post-disaster operations,” aniya.
“I see in the succeeding years, there was none… I know that the AFP also helps the PNP, LGUs, DPWH, agencies of government [in disasters]… Has it been helpful?” tanong ng senadora.
Sinabi ni Legarda na dapat tignan ang QRF nang hiwalay sa National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (NDRRM) fund.
“There’s a world of difference between the NDRRM fund kasi it takes so long to secure the NDRRM fund and there’s something wrong with our system. I’m blaming our law, there are so many requirements for the NDRRM and even the LGUs complain of the lengthy, arduous process for them to receive the NDRRM,” giit niya.
Samantala, inihayag naman ni Senate finance committee chairman Sherwin Gatchalian ang suporta sa adhikain na itaas ang badyet ng Department of National Defense (DND) katumbas ng 2% gross domestic product (GDP) ng bansa.
Aniya sa ginanap na plenaryo ng panukalang DND budget, umaabot lamang sa 1.2% ng GDP ang kasalukuyang defense budget.
“This is actually the highest in recent history… [2% is] the goal. Hopefully, in the next few years, sana before 2028 mareach po natin yan. We’re committed to slowly raising this. Ang target natin is 2% so kung [magaallocate] po tayo with wise spending and appropriation, kaya naman po,” aniy.
“The targeted 2% was at par with defense budgets of neighboring countries, citing the likes of Singapore, with around 2.7% of its GDP allocated towards defense, and Vietnam, which allocated 1.8% of its GDP to defense,”giit ni Gatchalian.
